NAIROBI, Kenya — The Kenyan government is set to phase out physical motor vehicle logbooks in a sweeping digital transition aimed at modernising vehicle registration, reducing fraud and eliminating bureaucratic delays within the transport sector.
The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) announced that it will officially roll out electronic motor vehicle registration certificates, known as eLogbooks, on June 10, marking a major shift from the paper-based system that has been in use for decades.
The reform forms part of the government’s broader digitisation strategy under the eCitizen platform, which has increasingly become the central gateway for accessing public services in Kenya.
NTSA Director General Nashon Kondiwa said the transition is designed to improve efficiency while dismantling corruption networks that have historically exploited manual processing systems.
“We are not only bringing services closer to wananchi by enabling them to access their logbooks electronically, but we are also eliminating bureaucracy and cartels,” Kondiwa said during a media briefing held on the sidelines of the 3rd Annual Regulatory Authorities and Agencies Conference at South Eastern Kenya University.
Instant digital access
Under the new system, vehicle owners will be able to access logbooks directly through their eCitizen accounts without waiting for printed certificates or physical delivery.
According to NTSA, the electronic logbook will be generated instantly once a vehicle is registered or ownership is transferred, significantly reducing processing timelines for motorists, car dealers, insurers and financiers.
The digital certificates will incorporate QR-code verification and encrypted security features intended to curb the widespread problem of forged or altered logbooks.
Banks, insurance companies and prospective vehicle buyers will be able to instantly verify ownership information by scanning the QR code embedded in the digital document.
The authority says this will make transactions safer while reducing disputes linked to fraudulent ownership claims.
Push to reduce fraud and middlemen
The transition comes amid mounting pressure on NTSA to modernise its systems as vehicle ownership continues to grow across Kenya.
The agency has repeatedly faced criticism over delays in ownership transfers, duplicate logbooks and fraudulent vehicle transactions linked to manipulation of paper records.
Under the eLogbook system, lenders and financial institutions will also be able to register and discharge financial interests electronically, reducing the risk of vehicles being sold without financiers’ knowledge.
Industry analysts say this could significantly improve confidence in Kenya’s fast-growing automotive financing market.
The reforms are also expected to weaken informal middlemen and cartels that have historically thrived around manual NTSA processes.
Real-time vehicle verification
NTSA says the new system will integrate directly with insurance databases, inspection records and public service vehicle compliance systems.
This will allow law enforcement officers and inspection agencies to instantly verify ownership details, insurance validity, inspection compliance and stolen vehicle alerts in real time.
The authority further says the platform will create a centralised digital history for each vehicle, tracking registration, ownership transfers, inspections and deregistration records.
“Every change made to a vehicle’s record will be time-stamped and cryptographically secured,” NTSA said, describing the system as an immutable audit trail designed to strengthen accountability and transparency.
The authority argues that digitalisation will also reduce operational costs by eliminating printing, physical storage and courier expenses associated with traditional logbooks.
Vehicle owners will no longer need to pay replacement fees for lost logbooks since copies can be downloaded directly from their eCitizen accounts.
The rollout reflects Kenya’s accelerating shift toward digital public administration.
Over the past two years, the government has expanded the use of the eCitizen platform across services including passport applications, tax payments, business registration, land transactions and licensing systems.
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The transition to digital logbooks follows other recent reforms aimed at integrating government databases and improving real-time verification systems.
Transport and technology experts say the success of the eLogbook rollout will largely depend on public awareness, system reliability and cybersecurity protections.
Concerns have previously emerged over occasional outages on eCitizen-linked systems and the growing risks associated with cyber threats targeting government databases.
NTSA Corporate Communication Principal Officer Anthony Nyongesa said support structures had already been established to ensure a smooth transition.
The authority says it will conduct nationwide sensitisation programmes and establish technical support desks ahead of the June launch to help motorists and stakeholders adapt to the new platform.
